J0dy hires a bigwig to help organise the Rabbit's Leap festival. They are raising money to repair the local swimming pool. Christian has some great ideas and the sparks soon fly between the two. It was lovely to return to Rabbit's Leap and feel as though you are amongst friends again. They go on several trips to source items for the event and she gets the locals on board making miles of homemade bunting to decorate the village.
It's a real feel good book with a lovely romance and plenty of heartwarming friendship and village busybodies.

3.5 stars

I absolutely adored the cover of this pretty summer read and the story inside did not disappoint either!

I found the character of Jody really relatable and likeable - as well as her twin boys Tyler and Jordan. I think I preferred this second one of the series than the first. I think the characters flowed together better and you could tell there was good relationships between all of the villagers. There was a real sense of community within this book and that's one thing I really enjoy in a story.

I also thought that the character of Christian was really likeable, even though I didn't think I would like him at first! Their relationship didn't seem too rushed or over the top and found the building up of their relationship really enjoyable. The book had some wonderful moments, as well as some humorous ones - and times when you 'awwed' at what was happening between the two potential love birds!

Overall, a really likeable, lighthearted story that made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Was a good light hearted read. Perfect read at this time of year. Enjoyed the storyline and getting to know the characters,

3.5 - "Second chances are a funny thing..." Stars!

We return to the village of Rabbit’s Leap and it’s quirky residents with the second book in Kellie Hailes’ series of the same name.

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The Big Little Festival takes cultured polished townie Christian Middlemore, and throws him in the path of single mother of twins Jody McArthur.

I fell in Love with Rabbits Leap and it’s inhabitants when I read The Cosy Coffee Shop of Promises and Kellie, gives good secondary character again with this story. I really liked Christian, event planner extraordinaire, has been hired by Jody to take over the organisation of the festival and try to bring together a cohesive plan for the town’s involvement. The cause it is in aid of is something that is very close to her heart as the funds raised will go to the reparation and reopening of the local swimming pool.

No. Men. Allowed.
Not until her boys were men…

Jody was a bit of a struggle to warm too, everything started out pretty well, and she’s a character that was involved in the first book so you have her basic background and know what she’s about from that. My problem is that I struggled with the way she treated Christian, I understood her being wary of men and reluctant to start a relationship with him, if you took into account of the way she fell pregnant and also with the way her father treated her, but I don’t think that actually justified some of her reactions towards him, the way she treated him, especially in the latter stages of the book.

Why did he have to be so thoughtful… On top of good to look at.

It felt like as a reader we were expected to just accept her being so unreasonable and in parts a total bitch because of her past, and it just didn’t feel warranted in the levels it was dealt out. Especially as by this point Christian has put his heart and feelings on the line (who also has a pretty sad back story) then takes the brunt of everything. The division of responsibility felt awfully one-sided to me, and the reconciliation between them lost a little of its gravitas because I wasn’t sure I really wanted them to finish the book as a couple.

That-said it wasn’t a struggle to read, Jody’s twin boys Tyler and Jordan added a bit of humor and lightened up some of the drama with their inclusion, it was also good to get some involvement from Tony and Mel (The Cosy Coffee Shop of Promises) as well as the town and resident of Rabbits Leap in general. The third book in the series takes us back for Christmas, with Christmas at the Second Chance Chocolate Shop due for release late on this year, and I look forward to reading it.

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ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.

I adored the cover of this summer read and the content most certainly did not disappoint either.

The characters were likeable and the storyline had that wonderful romantic feel which wasn’t too heavy or slushy. I loved reading about the village and the people in it, there were some wonderful entertaining moments.

This book made me smile, books should always make you smile

I decided to read this book thanks to its sunny and lovely cover and I don't regret it because the story inside is a very good one.

The Big Little Festival was mostly a funny and light hearted read, but I've also appreciated when at times it shows some much deeper emotions,giving the characters more depth.

I really liked Kellie Hailes writing,she totally got me hooked on the crazy villagers of Rabbits Leap and I can't wait to read more of their stories.

This book was very good, well written and contained well rounded characters. The main characters situation was very realistic, which I found unusual considering this looked like your typical romance story. The realism even spread to the end as it wasn't your normal 'happily ever after' but was a nice resolution. Overall a very entertaining and fun read. Nice for a warm quiet afternoon.

Rabbits Leap is coming up on the 500th anniversary of its name, as the citizens were promised freedom from the deluge of Rabbits that had overrun – with a tip / trick and promise from the Marsh fairy…. A Pied-Piper like parade was organized to play the Rabbits out of town, and the town earned it’s rather unusual name, without the apostrophe. Local resident and sister to pub-owner Tony (we met him in book one) Jody has decided the 500th anniversary is th best time for a festival that will, hopefully bring in enough money to repair the community pool, trashed several years back. Now with twin boys of 9, she’s taken on the role as head of the committee, after having organized weekly bingo nights and jumble sales to put toward the repair fund. But, with just three weeks to the big day, and things still not really firm, she’s hired an event planner to help her wrangle the event into existence: with her own money.

Christian answered Jody’s request for an event organizer, perfect timing as his own last event turned into a mess, and running away before the news broke and his career is scuttled seemed to be the perfect option. However, he didn’t expect to encounter such resistance to his dictates, nor such difficulty in keeping the committee of three in line: not to mention the electric connection he has whenever he is near Jody.

What a clever choice for a second couple. Jody has been single-minded in her determination to be all things for her boys, ignoring any sort of frivolity or emotional connection to anyone she’s not had around for years. A holdover from her reaction to her father’s emotional distance after her mother’s death: Jody prefers to stay in a controlled and safe little box, away from the dangers or hope that new people and relationships may bring. For his part, Christian has always felt the sting of his parent’s disappointment with his career choice of event planning over law, and they never have let him forget it. While their own relationship is more business than love, their personal interactions are few and not without strife, leading him to believe that love is unnecessary, relationships are trouble, and no one sticks around anyway. Why everyone can see the sparks and attraction between these two BUT these two is amusing, and the moments of them slowly revealing little secrets and taking chances are wonderful. Of course, they both make huge blundering mistakes, retreating to old patterns and comfort zones that never quite fit just the same as they did before. When you mx in the boys, the support from the town for Jody and the acceptance of Christian despite his very different look and city ways.

What emerges is a little town full of gossip, interference and caring- in equal measures whether you want it or not. There is a sense of home and acceptance here, and even as that neighbor drives you around the bend, you know that when things are rough they are there for you. One of those stores that makes you want to chuck it all in and find an eccentrically named town with a centuries old legend, buysbody neighbors and a giant rabbit cum jungle gym/ slide at its center.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

This little village has a whole lot of charm and is perfect for those looking for a sweet escape! Having read the first book in the series I just knew I had to read this one! And, I am so happy I did because it made me smile the entire way though! I can't wait for the author to continue the series (better yet, I hope she continues it because I will read every single book).

Rabbit’s Leap is preparing to hold its first annual festival to help raise money to rebuild the village swimming pool. Everyone is excited, but Jody McArthur is worried, The residents of her village stepped up to help her when she became pregnant with twins and now she desperately wants to repay their kindness by getting that pool restored. Just to be sure nothing can go wrong, Joy brings in a London events manager, Christian Middlemore. She’s sure he can make the fete a success. What she didn’t plan on was the instant attraction between herself and the events planner. She’s a busy single mum who has no time for romance…or does she? Once more the residents of rabbits Leap step in to make sure Jody finds her happily ever after. A summer feel good story perfect for the beach